The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced on Wednesday that it has joined other retail industry groups and companies in signing a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the super committee, urging it to close a tax loophole to prevent harm to traditional brick-and-mortar retail businesses — including pharmacies — and to assist states in collecting $23 billion in uncollected state sales taxes that currently are due on Internet and catalog sales.

Trilantic Capital Partners, a global private equity firm, on Tuesday announced that it has partnered with management to acquire Implus, a leader in the footwear, outdoor and fitness accessories markets.

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Monday touted the benefits community pharmacies can provide for health insurance exchanges once those exchange open in 2014 in a letter addressed to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The program to offer certain generic drugs virtually for free to Medicare Part D beneficiaries is one of Rite Aid’s many new ways to attract more customers and thus grow its sales and profits, especially in the pharmacy.

In an effort to reward loyal shoppers, CVS/pharmacy has created a new promotion that allows members of its ExtraCare Rewards program to earn multiple free gift cards by shopping for essentials at more than 7,200 locations nationwide.

Sales at Safeway are looking up thanks in large part to fuel gains, but the grocer's loyalty card program is expected to continue driving that sales momentum into next year as the company rolls out its Just for U digital marketing platform and explores health-and-wellness initiatives.

Private-label penetration at CVS/pharmacy locations is expected to grow to more than 20% in the next two to three years, and to help drive that growth, the retailer has developed its new Just the Basics line of store-brand products.

Retailers and their customers will save billions of dollars when new Federal Reserve regulations cutting debit card swipe fees roughly in half take effect this weekend, the National Retail Federation said.

In the wake of several surveys projecting how shoppers will spend this holiday season, the latest study from ShopperTrak expects national retail sales to increase 3% during November and December, while foot traffic will drop 2.2%.

Navarro Discount Pharmacy, a Hispanic-owned pharmacy chain and an MBF Healthcare portfolio company, has expanded its management team by naming Luis Mier as CFO and promoting Manuel Leon to VP wholesale and OTC programs.

Jim Cramer on Thursday shared his bullishness on Walgreens' stock with viewers of his "Mad Money" investment advice program on CNBC during a discussion and personal tour of Walgreens' new flagship location smack in the middle of the money-makers on Wall Street.

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SPECIAL REPORTS

Are we in the midst of a beauty revolution? Perhaps. It is no secret that the ever-changing beauty category is all about trends, but one could argue that we are embarking on an especially interesting time in beauty as technology is changing the way consumers shop and new innovations strive to break through the noise.

In this beauty report, Drug Store News takes a deeper dive into some of the leading trends that are reshaping beauty.more ...

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In this issue, DSN examines PricewaterhouseCoopers' "Top Health Industry Issues for 2015;" takes you on a tour of Murad, shares beauty trends and insights and delves into location-based technology and how it is revolutionizing health, retail.Click here to view the issue.